Dust separator and filtering mechanism for vacuum-cleaners.



T. WIEDEMANN & J. H. TEMPLIN. DUST SEPARATOR AND PILTERING MECHANISM FORVACUUM CLEANERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1909. 1,044,61 3.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES I 51 afgaW 2 ya":

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

T. WIEDEMANN & J. H. TEMPLIN.

- DUST SEPARATOR AND FILTERING MECHANISM FOR VACUUM CLEANERS.APPLIOATION FILED AUG/.11, 1909.

1,044,6 1 3, Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/p a"? 3/ 30 F8 THEODORE WIEDEMANN AND JOSEPH 'I-I.

TEMPLIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- YANIA, ASSIGNORS TO KELLER.MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DUST SEPARATOR AND FILTERI N G MECHANISM FOR VACUUM-CLEANERS.

Original application filed May 3, 1909,

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, THEODORE WIEDE- MANN and J osEPH H. TEMPLTN, bothcitizens of the United States, residing in the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful DustSeparator and'Filtering Mechanism for Vacuum-Cleaners, of which thefollowing is'a specification.

Our present invent-ion relates to a novel construction of dust separatorandfiltering mechanism which is especially adapted to be employed inconjunction with vacuum cleaners wherein the dirt, dust and foreignmaterial are separated from .the dust-laden air entering the machine sothat the purified air may discharge from the machine directly into theroom or other place in which the machine is operating.

We have shown, for purposes of illustration, our novel construction ofdust separator and filtering mechanism as employed in conjunction with amotor actuated vacuum cleaner of the portable type, the filteringmechanism being located in the vacuum chamber in such a manner as torender such mechanism readily accessible for inspection or removal.

With the above in view our invention con sists of a novel construct-ionof afiltering mechanism comprising one or a plurality of filteringfabrics removably supported within a casing, means being provided forconducting dust-laden air into contact with the filtering fabrics.

Our invention further consists of a novel construction of filteringmechanism wherein a plurality of filtering fabrics are located in avacuum chamber, the vacuum of which is substantially a constant duringthe work ing operation so that the ressure on opposite sides of thefiltering abr-ics is substantially the same.

It further consists of a novel manner of supporting the filteringfabrics.

It further consists of a novel construction of a dust bag ring and novelmeans for securing the same in air tight engagement with the'cover andthe casing.

It further consists of other novel features Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

Serial No. 493,724. Divided and this application filed August 11, 1909.Serial No. 512,283.

of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth. 7

For the purpose of illustrating our invention, we have shown in theaccompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred byus, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which our invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that our invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of avacuum cleaner, showing adust separator and filtering mechanism embodyin our invention inoperative relation with respect thereto. Fig. 2 represents a sectionalelevation of ourdevice, certain parts having been removed for the sakeof clearness of illustration. Fig. 3 represents on an enlarged scale asectional elevation of a por tion of our device, the dust bag ring andone of the bags being shown in the position it assumes when the bag isbeing removed from or inserted in the casing.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings :-In order to more clearly set forth ourinvention, we have shown the same in assembled-position in a vacuumcleaner conforming to a construction which is described and broadlyclaimed in our prior pending application for vacuum cleaning apparatus,filed May 3, 1909, Serial'No. 493,724, of which the present case is adivision, although it will be apparent that our novel filteringmechanism may be employed in conjunction with any desired type ofcleaning device and in the detailed description of our device we willdescribe as briefly as possible the suction creating mechanism since thesame is broadly claimed in our above mentioned pending application towhich reference .may be had for a detailed description of theconstruction and operation thereof.

1 designates the base of the vacuum cleaner which is'preferably providedwith suitable desired jcontour instance, 1s shown as having acylindrical form. I

3 designates members jmovably connected with the base land provided withnuts or their equivalents 4, whereby the base 1 is suitably interlockedwitlrrespect to the casing 2, it bein seen that the members 3 passthroughmem ers 5 projecting from the casing 2. I

6 designates a motor located within the casing and supported in thepresent instance upon the base 1, said motor having suitably mountedonits shaft on opposite sides thereof the connecting rods 7 which aresuitably connected with the suction creating member 8 of thepump 9, thecasing of which latter is preferably supported on standards 10 carriedby the base 1. The pump 9 divides the casing 2 into two compartments, avacuum compartment 11 and a pressure compartment 12, the pump 9 beingprovided with an inlet port 13 communicating with the vacuumcompartment.

14 designates a plate or pan preferably in air tight engagement with thesides of the casing 2 and provided with an opening 15 which communicateswith the pump inlet port 13, it being seen by reference to Fig. 1 that astrip of suitable packing 16 is interposed between the plate 14 and thepump 9 whereby an air tight connection is formed at such point.

- 17 designates slotted lugs or ears in which are pivoted the bolts 18which latter are adapted to pass through the slotted extensions 19 ofthe cover 20, said bolts being provided with suitable nuts 21 wherebythe parts are maintained in their assembled position. The slotted lugsor ears 18 are preferably carried by an annular member 22 secured to theupper portion of the casing 2, said annular member being adapted toreceive a acking strip 23 on which is adapted to lie seated thelaterally extending flange 24: of a dust bag ring 25 which latter isprovided with a depending flange 26, the,

lower portion of which is preferably 1nwardly deflected as indicated at27 thereby adapting the same to have secured thereto the upper portionof a dust bag or filtering fabric 28 by means of a resilient or otherfastening device 29 which may consist of a wire, string or othersuitable cord, if desired.

30 designates the outer dust bag or filtering fabric the upper end ofwhich has secured thereto in any desired manner a preferably resilientring- 31 so that the upper ortion of the outer filtering bag 30, whichis preferably constructed of felt or other filterin material, willclosely engage the sides 0 the vacuum chamber 11. The lower length soport the apparatus from one apartment or grasped by two portion of theouter filtering bag 30 is supported on an apertured plate 32, thediameter of which is preferably greater than the diameter of the opening15 in the plate 14 and less than the diameter of the vacuum chamber 11.

33 designates a packing strip suitably carried by the cover 20 andadapted to engage the laterally extending flange 24 of the dust bag ring25-when the parts are in assembled position, so that when the filteringmechanism is in place an air tight connection is formed between thecasing and the dust bag ring, as will be apparent to those skilled inthis art.

The cover 20 is preferably provided with a depending flange 34 whichextends into the dust bag ring and if desired may bein close engagementtherewith. 1

35 designates the inlet port through which the dust laden air enters andthis port is adapted in any suitable manner to receive one end of thehose to which is secured the suction nozzle, through which thedust-laden air enters. The inlet portv35 communicates with a preferablyconical shaped chamb r 36, which latter communicates with tlie vacuumchamber 11, the upper portion of said chamber 36 being closed by meansof a transparent member 37 which is secured in position with respect tothe cover in any suitable manner.

The cover 20 may be provided with a handle 38 which is preferably ofsufficient that when it is desired to transroom to another the handlecan be readily people if desired.

In the operation of the filtering mechanism, the dust-laden air entersthrough the inlet 35, passes through the observation chamber 36 into thevacuum chamber 11 and since the vacuum in such chamber is substantiallyconstant during the working operation of the vacuum cleaner, the airwill pass through the inner filtering fabric 28 and the outer filteringfabric 30 at a slow speed so that all of the dust, dirt and foreignimpurities contained within the air willbe removed therefrom and the airin its pur1- fied condition will pass from the vacuum chamber 11 throughthe port 15 and inlet port 13 into the pumping chamber 39 of the v pump9 and thence through the ports in the suction creating member 8 ofthepump into the pressure compartment 12, from which the air isdischarged to the atmosphere through the restricted port 40.- Nearlyallof the dust, dirt and foreign material will be contained within theinner filterin bag 38 which is preferably constructed 0 canvas or othersuitable filtering fabric. Owing to the manner in which the lowerportion of the outer filterin bag 30 is supported there is no liabilityo the lower portion of this bag being drawn into the pump inlet port 13and into contact with the valve mechanism there-in. When it is desiredto remove the filtering fabrics, in order to clean the same, it issimply necessary to loosen the thumb nuts 21 whereupon the cover may bereadily removed, the dust bag ring 25 may then be removed, together withthe inner filtering bag 28 as will be apparent to those skilled in thisart. removed if desired.

The object of employing two dust bags or filtering fabrics is to insurea thorough filtering of the air before it reaches the remove the outerdustbag as the inner one, as is evident.

We wish to call particular attention to the fact the same, the filteringfabrics in such a manner as to remove the impurities from the dust-ladenair in, a very efiicient and reliable manner and in so far as we areaware we are the first in the art to locate a filtering mechanism withinvacuum is substantially constant during the working operation of themachine and the pressure on opposite sides of the filtering fabricssubstantially the same.

In our present construction we employ a vacuum chamber of relativelylarge volume with respect to the pumping mechanism so that a very largearea of filtering surface is provided for the dust-laden air and ifdesired the dust bags may be folded within the vacuum chamber in orderto increase the area of the filtering surface.

By the provision of suitable wings 41 carried by the plate 14'theapertured plate 32 is supported in such a manner as to positivelyprevent the filtering fabrics'clogging the pump inlet port, The win 5 41consist of strips of metal or other suitable material supported withinor upon the plate or pan 14.

In a co-pending application for vacuum cleaning apparatus, filed by uson May 3rd, 1909, Serial No. 493,724, we have described and broadlyclaimed a novel construction of a dust separating and filtering devicecomof filtering devices 10- prising a plurality cated within the vacuumcompartment and also a novel manner of securing the filtering devices inposition, which construction per se is disclaimed herein. In our presentapplication, we make no claim to the above mentioned disclainied matterinvolved in our co-pending application hereinbefore referred to, whereinwe have shown a vacuum chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a

filtering device supported intermediate the Theouter bag 30 may then bepumpingchamber, it being unnecessary to 30 as frequently;

supporting the lower end of the filtering bag particularly that in ourpresent invention the filtering mechanism is located within the vacuumchamber so that the pressure on opposite sides of the filtering fabricis substantially so that the air will pass through a vacuum chamberwherein the of operation'and characteristics cover and the casing and inair tight engagement therewith and an outer filtering bag surroundingthe inner filtering device the upper end of the outer bag being infrictional engagement with the walls of the vacuum reservoir, incombination with means for maintaining a vacuum in the'vacuum reservoir.In the present application we particularly define and claim the novelmeans comprising the plate or its equivalent for engaging the lower endof the outer filtering bag, whereby the filtering fabrics are preventedfrom clogging the inlet port to the pumping chamber and also from cominginto contact with the valve mechanism of the pumping mechanism. Themeans for referred to herein, comprises specifically an apertured memberor its equivalent supported in any suitable manner, but preferably onwings extending across the inlet to'the pumping mechanism and it is thisfeature which isillustrated in our co-pending application hereinbeforereferred to and also in the present application to which the claims inthe present application are particularly directed.

So far as we are aware, we are the first in the art to combine with oneor two dust bags constructed and located substantially as described, anapertured supporting plate or indeed, any support or plate, apertured orotherwise in an apparatus of the general character described, and ourclaims to these features are therefore to be interpreted withcorresponding scope.

In the foregoing specification and in our claims hereafter made, we ofcourse use the term vacuum not in its strict sense, but as it isordinarily employed to describe the mode of this class of devices, andas referring practically to a condition of pressure sufliciently belowthe normal atmospheric pressure to be efficient 1n producing the desiredresult.

Having thus described our invention, What we clalm as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a device of the character described,

a casing havinga vacuum chamber provided with an inletand outlet, a dustseparating device depending within said casing, a supporting ringdetachable from said casing for the upper portion of said separatingdevice, the latter depending from said ring, and an apertured memberlocated in proximity to said device and intermediate the latter and saidoutlet, said member being adapted to support said separating deviceduring the creation of the vacuum.

2. In a device of the character described. a casing having a vacuum-chamber provided with an inlet and outlet, a plurality of dustseparating-devices in said casing, means for retaining the upperportions of said devices said cover and casing,

within said casing, and an'apertured mem-' ber adapted to support thecontiguous lower portion'of one of said separating devices.

3. In a device of the character described, a casing having a vacuumchamber provided with an inlet and an outlet, a dust separating devicein said casing, a supporting ring detachable from said casing for theupper port-ion of said separating device, the latter depending from saidring, an apertured member located in proximity to said dust separatingdevice, and adapted to contact therewith, and vacuum creating mechanismcommunicating with said vacuum chamber outlet, said apertured memberbeing located intermediate of said, inlet and outlet of said vacuumchamber.

4. In a device of the character described, a casing havinfivacuumchamber provided with an inlet and an outlet, a cover for said casing, adust bag support secured between said cover and easing, a filtering bacarried by said support, an outer filtering diag surrounding the lowerportion of said first filtering bag, means for maintaining the upperportion of said outer filtering bag within said casing, and an aperturedmember supporting the lower end of said outer filtering ag. v I 5. In adevice of the character described, a casing having a vacuum chamberprovided with an inlet and, an outlet, a cover for said casing, a dustbag support secured between a filtering bag carried by said support, anouter filtering bag surrounding the lower portion of said first.filtering bag, means for maintaining the upper portion of said outerfiltering bag in engagement with the inner periphery of said casing, andan apertured member supporting the lower end of said outer filtering bagin combination with means communicating with said vacuum chamber outletfor maintaining a vacuum in said vacuum chamber. 6. In a device of thecharacter described, a casing having a vacuum chamber provided with aninlet and an outlet, a cover for said casing, a plurality of dustbags insaid chamber, one of said bags having a laterallyextending flangeadapted to be retained in position by said cover, a plate located withinsaid casing and having a vacuum chamber outlet therein, laterallyextending wings carried by said plate, and an apertured member carriedbysaid wings and supporting the lower end of the outer one of'said bags.

7. In a device of the character described, a casing having a vacuumchamber provided with an inlet and an outlet, a cover for said casing, aplurality of dust bags in said chamber, one of said bags having alaterally extendin flange adapted to be retained in position y saidcover, a plate located within said casing and having a vacuum chamberoutlet therein, laterally extending wings carried by said plate, and anapertured member carried by said wings and supporting the lower end ofthe outer one of said bags, in combination with pumping mechanismcommunicating with said vacuum chamber outlet.

8. In a device of the character described, a casing having a vacuumchamber provided with an inlet and an outlet, a removable cover for saidcasing, a plurality of dust bags in said chamber, one of said bagshaving a laterally extending flange adapted to be retained in positionby said cover, a plate located within said casing and having a vacuumchamber outlet therein, an apertured member carried by said plate andsupporting the lower end of one of said dust bags,

and pumping mechanism communicating with the vacuum chamber outlet.

9. In a filter, a casing having a vacuum chamber therein provided withan inlet and an outlet, a cover for said casing, fastening device'smovably carried by said casing and adapted to interlock with said cover,means for causing said interlocking, a filter sup ort' located betweensaid cover and sai casing and having a laterally extending flange,packing engaging the opposite sides of said flange, an inner filter ingbag secured to said support, an outer filtering bag having its upper endin frictional engagement with the sides of the vacuum chamber andsurrounding the inner filtering bag and an apertured member supportedabove said outlet and adapted to support'the lower end of said outerfiltering '10. In a filter,

an outlet, a cover for said casing, fastening devices movably carriedbysaid casing and adapted to interlock with said cover, means forcausing said interlocking, a filter support located between said coverand said casing, and having a laterally extending flange, packingengaging the opposite sides of said flange, an inner filteringbag'secured to said support, an outer filtering bag having I its upperend in frictional engagement with the sides of the vacuum chamber andsurrrounding the inner filtering bag, and an apertured member supportedabove said outlet and adapted to support the lower end of said outerfiltering bag, in combination with means communicating with said outletfor maintaining a vacuum within the vacuum chamber.

11. In a device of the character described, a casing having a vacuumchamber therein provided with an inlet and an outlet, a cover for saidcasing in which said inlet is located, a handle for-said cover, meansfor interlocking said cover and casing in airtight engagement, a filtersupport having a. laterally a casing having a vacuum chamber thereinprovided with an inlet and extending flange supported between said coverand casing, an inner filter bag secured to said support, an outer filterbag having its upper end in frictional engagement with the sides of thevacuum chamber and surrounding the lower end of the inner filter bag anapertured member supported above said outlet and ada ted to support thelower end of said outer fi 'ter bag, and means communicating with saidoutlet for maintaining a vacuum within said vacuum chamber.

12. In a device of the character described, a casing having a vacuumchamber provided with an inlet and an outlet, a dust separating devicehaving its upper end in frictional engagement with the inner peripheryof said vacuum chamber, and an apertured member within said chamber andadapted to support the lower portion of said dust separating device.

13. In a device of the character stated, a casing having a vacuum withan inlet and an outlet, a dust separating device, a supporting ringdetachable from said casing for the upper portion of said separatingdevice, the latter depending from said ring, and a plate within thechamber supporting the lower end of said device against movement towardthe outlet.

14. In, a device of the character stated, a casing having a vacuumchamber provided with an inlet and an outlet, a flexible dust separatordevice therein, a supporting ring detachable from said casin for theupper portion of said separating evice, the latter depending from saidring and means for supporting the same at the bottom against movementtoward the outlet.

15. In a device of the character stated, a

chamber provided casing having a vacuum chamber provided with an inletand an outlet, means for with drawing fluid through the outlet to createthe vacuum, a flexible dust separatin device therein, a supporting ringdetachable from said casin for the upper portion of said separating d efrom said ring, and a support for the lower end of said device extendingtransversely thereunder.

16. In a device of the character described, a casing having a vacuumchamber provided with an inlet and an outlet, a cover for said casing, adust bag support secured between said cover and casing, a filtering bagcarried by said support and depending therefrom and an apertured membersupporting the lower end of said filtering bag during the creation ofthe vacuum.

17. In a device of the character described, a casing having a vacuumchamber provided with an inlet and an outlet; a cover for said casing; adust bag support clamped between said cover and said casing; a filteringdust bagcarried by said support and extending into said vacuum chamber;an outer filtering dust bag surrounding the lower portion of said firstmentioned bag; means independent of the support of said first mentionedbag for maintalnin said outer bag in position with relation t ereto; andmeans communicating with the outlet of said vacuum chamber formaintaining a vacuum in said chamber.

THEODORE WIEDEMANN. JOSEPH H. TEMPLIN. Witnesses:

H. S. FAIRBANKS, C. D. MoVAY.

vice,,the latter depending

